Combination attachment for a smoking pipe



Oct. 20, 1959 Filed March 11, 1959 wa m United States Patent CONIBINATION ATTACHli IENT FOR A SMOKING PIPE John K. Franzreb, Kingston, Tenn.

Application March 11, 1959, Serial No. 798,652

7 Claims. (Cl. 131-183) This invention relates to a combination attachment adapted to be mounted in the bowl of a smoking pipe for supporting the tobacco above and out of engagement with the heel of the pipe bowl while the pipe is being smoked, and which may be utilized for removing tobacco ashes and reaming the pipe bowl after the pipe has been smoked.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachlce r 2,909,181

Patented Oct. 20,. 1959 18 with the tube portion 11 extending downwardly into the pipe bowl, as seen in Figures 1 to 3. Apart of the p the lower portion of the pipe bowl adjacent the heel 20.

ment for supplying air to the pipe bowl below the tobacco to minimize condensation in the heel of the pipe bowl and pipe stem to provide a cooler smoking pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pipe attachment adapted to support a cleaning element below the tobacco for absorbing moisture from the tobacco which would otherwise accumulate in the heel of the bowl.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which may be utilized as a rack for supporting the pipe in an inverted position when not in use.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following-description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the attachment shown applied to a smoking pipe which is illustrated partly in elevation and partly in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the attachment in an applied position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the lower portion of the attachment, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the attachment in an applied position and utilized as a pipe supporting rack, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the attachment and illustrating an additional function of one of the parts.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the combination smoking pipe attachment in its entirety is designated generally 8 and includes a rigid tube, designated generally 9, having a zigzag end portion 10 all parts of which are disposed coplanar, and a straight portion 11 forming a substantially right angular extension of one end of the tube portion 10. The extension 11 is substantially straight and has an angular extension 12 projecting from the end thereof disposed remote from the portion 10. The portion 12 constitutes the other end of the tube 9 and has its terminal closed and flattened to provide a base portion 13 which is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the portion 10. The base portion 13 has a threaded opening 14 extending therethrough. A resilient gripping member 15 is secured to the tube portion 11, beneath and adjacent the base 10, and includes two arcuately bowed spring fingers 16 which are spring biased outwardly for gripping engagement in the upper portion of a smoking pipe bowl 17 for holding the attachment 8 applied to a smoking pipe- A pair of corresponding segment shaped flat reamer elements 21 and 22 are adjustably supported onthe base portion 13. Each reamer element has a toothed arcuate edge 23, constituting the wider end thereof, and a narrow end 24 which is provided with an elongated slot 25; The slots '25 are disposed axially of the elements 21 and 22,, and the narrow ends, 24 thereof are disposed in overlapping relation to one another and with the slots 25 in alignment or partial alignment. The inner end 24: of the lower reamer element 22 rests upon and is disposed crosswise of the base portion 13. A headed screw26 has its shank extending loosely through the: slots 25 and is threaded downwardly through the opening 14. With the screw 26 loosened, the reamer elements 21 and 22 are adjusted relative to one another'and to the'base portion :13 and screw 26 to position the toothed edges 23 thereof proper distances from one another to conformably fit in and contact the wall of the pipe bowl 17, when the attachment 8 is applied thereto, as illustrated in Figures l to 3. The reamer elements 21 and 22'may be provided withapertures 34 for the passage of smoke therethrough. The parts of the attachment 8, previously described, are formed of heat and rust resistant materials. As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, a small vent opening 27 is formed in a part of the underside of the tube portion 12 and is thus disposed below the reamer elements 21 and 22.

A tethering member, such as a chain 28 or other flexible fireproof element, has one end attached to a part of the base 10 of the tube 9 and has an opposite end forming a loop 29 which engages around the pipe stem 30 to retain the attachment 8 connected to the pipe 18 when it is disengaged from the pipe bowl 17.

The attachment 8 is applied to the pipe before smo ing, and the tobacco, not shown, is supported on the reamer elements 21 and 22 while the pipe is smoked, so that the heel 20 of the pipe bowl will be maintained comparatively dry and free of tightly packed tobacco which is moistened by condensation and tends to clog the pipe stem and result in a hot and strong smoking pipe. In addition, cool air will be drawn through the tube 9, as the pipe is smoked, and will be released into the heel portion 20 through the vent outlet 27 for mixing with and cooling the smoke. After the pipe has been smoked, the attachment 8 can be withdrawn from the pipe bowl 7 and the tobacco ashes will be removed from the bowl in this manner by the reamer elements 21 and 22, which will additionally scrape and ream the wall of the pipe bowl as said parts are removed therefrom.

The screw 26 has a bore 31 extending diametrically through the shank thereof and which is disposed below the base portion 13 to receive a length of a conventional pipe cleaner 32. The ends of the pipe cleaner 32 can be wound around the screw 26, below the base portion 13, for absorbing any moisture which may pass downwardly from the tobacco being smoked.

When the pipe is not being smoked it can be inverted and the attachment 8 will then form a supporting rack with the portion 10 constituting the base of the rack. Said portion 10 can rest on a table or other supporting surface 33 for supporting the pipe in an inverted position, as seen in Figure 5. The base 10, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, is disposed over the pipe stem 30 and is thus properly located to provide a stable support for the inverted pipe.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A smoking pipe attachment comprising a tube having a substantially straight portion adapted to extend downwardly into a pipe bowl and terminating in an inturned closed and flattened end adapted to be disposed crosswise of the lower portion of the pipe bowl, a pair of pipe bowl reamers and tobacco supporting elements supported on said flattened tube end, means adjustably securing said elements to said flattened tube end with portions of said elements in engagement with the pipe bowl wall, and a spring clip secured to said straight tube portion above and spaced from said elements and having spring fingers biased into engagement with the bowl wall for maintaining said straight tube portion in substantially an upright position relative to the pipe bowl.

2. A smoking pipe attachment as in claim 1, said tube having an opposite end portion disposed externally of the pipe including a part adapted to rest upon the rim of the 4. A smoking pipe attachment as in claim 1, said elements being segment shaped and having toothed arcuate edges adapted to contact the pipe bowl wall.

5. A smoking pipe attachment as in claim 4, said elements having overlapping inner end portions provided with elongated slots, said means for adjustably securing said elements to the flattened end comprising a screw extending loosely through said slots and threadedly through said flattened tube end.

6. A smoking pipe attachment as in claim 5, said screw having a bore extending transversely therethrough and disposed below said flattened tube end, and a pipe cleaner strand having a portion extending through said bore and supported by the screw beneath said elements.

7. A smoking pipe attachment as in claim 1, said tube including an opposite end portion disposed externally of the pipe bowl and including a part adapted to bear on the pipe bowl rim, and a flexible element for tethering the attachment to the pipe having a looped end adapted to engage around the pipe stem and an opposite end connected to said last mentioned end portion of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 647,122 Voit et a1 Apr. 10, 1900 1,462,425 Shaw July 17, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 420,136 France Sept. 29, 1909 

